Occultly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Done in a way that is hidden from view or knowledge, often secrecy or mystery involved
2. Performed or expressed without being openly revealed or understood, kept concealed from others
3. Carried out in a covert or secret fashion, not obvious or openly acknowledged

Etymology: "Occultly" is simply "occult" with the English adverb ending "-ly" added. The adjective "occult" came into English from Latin "occultus", the past participle of "occulere", "to cover over" or "to hide", built from "ob" ("over, against") and "celare" ("to conceal"). The root "celare" is also the source of "conceal", so the two words are close cousins through the same Latin verb. The "-ly" ending has a long pedigree of its own. It descends from an Old English form "-līċe", which was itself related to the word "lic" ("body, form"), so an adverb like "occultly" literally means "in the manner of something occult". The suffix attaches readily to adjectives, which is why English can form adverbs like this from almost any adjective. "Occultly" describes an action carried out in a hidden or secret way, so the word's sense stays close to its Latin roots of covering and concealing.

Synonyms: mysteriously, secretly

Antonyms: openly